UN Security Council to continue Cyprus mission despite Turkey protest

[News_Editor]

UN Security Council to continue Cyprus mission despite Turkey protest

2010-12-15 08:22:05 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday extended the mandate of its peacekeeping mission in Cyprus despite Turkey's negative vote.

The UN mission in Cyprus has been in place since 1964 following an outbreak of inter-communal violence. The extension was approved after a 14-1 vote and the mission will remain active until at least June 15, 2011.

In the resolution, the Security Council called for Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders to intensify the momentum of negotiations that intend to bring peace and reunification to the Mediterranean island.

The 15-member body also called for the development of a plan to solve disagreements ahead of the visit of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in January.

The Turkish delegation voted against the continuation of the mission after considering that the Turkish Cypriot side of the island was not being considered.

"There has not been a joint and constitutional government representing the whole of Cyprus since 1963," said Turkish Ambassador Ertugrul Apakan. "Treating the Greek Cypriot Government as the government of the whole island has been the main obstacle on the way to finding a just, lasting and comprehensive solution for over 47 years."

Turkey considers that, in any peacekeeping operation, the two sides must consent on it in order for the mission being successful. However, neither the past resolutions nor the recently-approved one achieved such consent.

In 2008, the two Cypriot leaders of the two communities committed themselves to working towards a bi-communal, bi-zonal federation with political equality, as defined by relevant Security Council resolutions which resulted in the beginning of the talks.

On November 18, Greek Cypriot leader Dimitris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu agreed to intensify their contacts to advance progress in the negotiations, during a meeting with Secretary-General Ban. It was also decided that they would meet with Ban again at the end of January in Geneva.

"In the meantime, the leaders will identify further convergences and the core issues which still need to be resolved, across all chapters. That, in turn, will help the United Nations determine its own next steps," Ban said after their last meeting.

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